Controlling system for electric elevators.



w. 8. SMITH. I CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1916

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

MAMA

VIIVVVIV 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS.

WILLIAM sjsm'rn, or CAMBRIDGE,

CONTROLLING srsrnm roa ELECTRIC nnnva'rons.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917. Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,456. i

1 249 682. Specification of Letters Patent.

Preferably, I accomplish these results by providing a series of floor-magnets corresponding in number to the floors or stations, two windings or coils,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM citizen of the United States,

S. SMITH, a residing at Cambridge, inthe county of Middlesex and each magnet having State of Massachusetts, have invented a new one being an actuating-coil for operatingand useful Improvement in Controlling Systhe magnet and the other being a retaintems for Electric Elevators, of which the ing-coil for holding the magnet in any opfollowing is a specification, reference being erated position. The actuating-coil of each had therein to the accompanying drawings. magnet is included in a circuit with its re- My invention relates to the electrical opspective station and car push-buttons so eration of elevators by the use of a pushthat the closing of a circuit by the operation button system and the main object of the inof a push-button either at a station or in the vention is to provide a system which is simcar closes a circuit and actuates one of the ple and effective both in construction and in floor-magnets which by means of suitable operation and which may be installed at a contacts closes a second circuit which enerlow cost. gizes a magnet for operating the reversing- Another object of the invention is to proswitch to start the motor. The reversingv vide a system having means for preventing switch magnet is provided with suitable coninterference with the elevator car after it tacts so that when it is operated a new cirhas been started by the operation of a pushcuit is closed through the retaining-coils on button and until it has reached its destinathe floor-magnets and the push-button cirtion. cuits are all opened thereby making the Additional objects of the invention will be push-buttons ineffective so far as the motormore specifically set forth and described controlling devices are concerned. hereinafter. In the accompanying drawings illustrat- Briefly described, my invention contem- .ing an apparatus for controlling elevators plates a system for controlling electrical eleconstructed and operated in accordance with vators having the following general feamy invention Figure 1 is a diagrammatic tures. A motor of any suitable construction view showing the preferred arrangement of is provided for operating the elevator car circuits and apparatus and ,Fig. 2 is a side in either direction, the motor being preferelevation of one form of contacts arranged ably arranged in a circuit across the line, to be operated by the'reversing-switch to the closing and opening of said circuit to close the retaining-coil circuit on the floorstart and to stop the motor being controlled magnets before thepush-button circuits inby a reversing-switch of suitable construccluding'the actuating-coils are opened. tion. At each floor or station is installed a Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates the appush-button of ordinary construction and in paratus as adapted to be actuated by a dithe car there may be a series of push-but- 'rect current but it can be used 1n connectlon tons corresponding in number and arrangewith an alternating current by a proper ment to the floor or station push-buttons. modification of the magnet construction an All of these push-buttons are included in the windings on the same; all of whlch suitable circuits adapted when any one cirmodifications would be apparent to one cuit is closed by the operation of a pushversed in the ant. button to operate the motor-controlling de- In the illustrated embodiment of the invices to start the motor To prevent intervention there is shown a system havmg four ference after the car has started and before stations or floors but the number of stations it reaches its destination means are proor floors may be reduced or increased by vided whereby all the puslrbutton circuits merely subtracting from or addlng certain are opened by the operation of the motorunits to the system. controlling devices without interrupting the Referring to Fig. 1, 3 and 4 are the posioperation of the motor. Until the car tive and negative supply lines respectively reaches its destination and the motor has and 5 is the armature o a motor shown as a stopped the operation of any push-button shunt motor having a field coil 6 connected either at a station or in a car cannot close a to the supply lines by conductors 7 and 8, p n c m lit M d therefore s Of I10 the circuit beingopened and closed by a efiect. switch 9.. The circuit for operating the mo-.

' sponding to the 7 reasons and in tor is across the line as indicated by the con ductors 11 and 11,, the circuit being controlled by a reversing-switch 12 which will be described in detail hereinafter.

For the purpose of operating the reversing-switch to start the motor from any floor or str tion, the following means are provided. Suitable circuit-closing devices such as push-buttons a a a anda are located at the four floors or stations respectively. When the elevator car is employed for-carrying passengers a similar series of pushbuttons 5,, b b and b, is installed in the car. The hoistway door on each floor is provided with a contact c 0,, c and c respectively, which is open when the door is open and closed when the door is closed so that the system is out of operation hoistway doors are closed.

Arranged in the push-button circuits are a plurality of coils 03,, d d, and d corresponding in number to the number of floors or stations; said coils being wound with suihcient ampere turns to actuate small floor magnets 6 e c and 6 respectively.

The push-buttons at the stations when operated close a circuit from the main 3 through conductor13, door contacts 0,, 0 a, and 0 provided they are all closed, conductor 14, thence through the coil 03 correpush-button operated, conductor 15, contacts 16, contact member 17, contact 18, conductor 19, contact 20, contact member 21, contact 22 and conductor 23 to the negative main; The contact members 1'? and 21 are operated by the reversingswitch to open the push-button circuits for a manner to be hereinafter explained. When the system is in a normal inoperative condition, the contact members are in a position closing the push-button circuits across the contacts 16 and 18 and the contacts 20 and 22. The (lOOr contacts are so arranged in this circuit that if any door is opened the circuit cannot be closed by the operation of a push-button. The latter are in parallel circuits, each push-button being adapted to close a circuit through its respective coil to actuate its respective floor magnet. When car push-buttons are employed, they are placed in parallel circuits with their respective push-buttons at the stations and connected by flexible conductors 24 to those circuits, so that the effect of operating a push-button in the car is the same as When a station push-button is operated.

The operation of a floor-magnet due to the pressing of a push-button at a station or in the car operates the reversing-switch to start the motor in the following manner. The magnets 6 e, e, and e are provided with contact members f f 7% and 7, respectively which engage contacts 9 and [L g and 711,, {/3 and h, and g and k respectivelv when any magnet is energized and thereby unless all the naaacoa establishes a control circuit through various conductors and switches i 55 j 7 j and j which operate to direct the control circuit to the reversing-switch to start and to stop the motor. These switches are operated by a member C arranged to travel in synchronism with the car and as shown in Fig. l'the member C moves to the right when the car ascends and to the left when it descends. The control circuits adapted to be established by the various floor-magnets may be divided into two main I group connecting the switches j,, j, and j, with the contacts g 72,, and 9 h, an 9 its respectively so that the operation of magnet e,, or e, or e, closes a circuit to cause the car to descend and, secondly, a group con necting the switches j j and i with the contacts 9 it, and g [763 and 9 it, respectively in order that the operation of magnet e, or e, or e, closes a circuit to cause the car to ascend.

The reversing-switch 12 may be of any suitable construction and is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 as composed of two magnets k and each carrying suitable contacts for closing the motor circuit. The magnet is is included in the first group of control circuits and when it is operated by the closing of any one circuit in this group by the operation of floor-magnet e, or 6 or e, contact-pieces 25 and 26 carried by the magnet are moved into engagement with contacts 27 and 28 and contacts 29 and 30 respectively and thereby closes the motor circuit and admits the current to the motor in such a way as to cause the car to descend. The magnet 76, is included in the second group of control circuits and when operated by the closing of any one circuit in this group through the operation of floor-magnet 6, or e, or e, contact-pieces 32 and 38 carried by the magnet are thrown into en-' gagement with contacts 34 and 35 and con tacts 36 and 37 respectively and in consequence closes the motor circuit and admits the current to the motor in such a way as to cause the car to ascend.

Both groups of control circuits may be connected to the positive main 3 by a common conductor 40 connected to conductor 14 and through the door contacts to conductor 13 and may be connected to the negative main 4 by a common conductor 41. Between the points 42 and 43 the control circuits are parallel.

As thus far described, it will be noted that all the push-button circuits are capable of being closed by the operation of any push-button. In order to prevent the interference which would be caused by the operation of a push-button after-the motor starts and before the car reaches its destination, I provide means for maintaining all of the push-button circuits open from groups, first, a

the time the reversing-switch is operated until after the car has reached its destination. At the same time I also provide means be employed for opening for maintaining the particular floor-magnet which has been operated by the pushing of the push-button to start the motor in an operative position :until thecar reaches its destination, otherwise the opening of all the pushbutton circuits would permit the operated floor-magnet to return to an inoperative position and thereby break the control circuit establishedto start the motor and the motor would stop. While any suitable means may 11 the push-button circuits and maintaining the operated floor-magnet in its operative position, I prefer to accomplish these results by providing each floor-magnet with a retaining-coil having sufficient ampere turns, when energized, to maintain the magnet in an operated position, but not of sufficient strength to operate it, all of these retaining-coils being in a circuit which is closed and opened by means of contacts carried by the reversing-switch magnets. All of the pushbutton circuits are likewise opened by means of contacts carried by the reversing-switch magnets when the reversing-switch is operated to start the motor. In the drawings 1' r T and 1', designate the retaining-coils on the magnets 6 e e, and e respectively.

All of the retaining-colls are connected .in

series although if desired they may be connected in parallel. These coils are connected to the positive main through the conductor 14, door contacts and conductor 13 and on the other side are connected to the negative main through conductor 45 and conductor 23. The conductor 45 is connected to a contact 47 on the magnet I0 and a contact 48 on the magnet is and conductor 23 is connected to contact 46 on the magnet is, and contact 49 on magnet Z; the result being that when either of said magnets is operated the retaining-coil circuit is closed by the contact-member 17 in k, or the contact-member 21 in k. At the same time the operation of either one of these magnets causes the contact-piece 17 or 21 to move out of engagement with the contacts 16 and.18 or 20 and 22 and to'open all of the push-button circuits.

It is, of course, necessary that in the operation of either of the reversing-switch magshould be established before the push-button circuits are opened and for this purpose I provide a form of movable contact shown in Fig. 2.

of the drawings in which the contact 16 is in the form of a pivoted arm held against the contact member 17 by means of a spring 53. As the contact-piece 17 is moved upwardly the contact 16 medium of the spring 53 until it is stopped by the stop 52. At this point the contact- Assume that the car is in that is,

' go to the second floor.

member 17, contact follows it through the engages the contact 46 which this position,

the form of a pivoted arm held is likewise in in a downward position by a spring 54 and provided with an car 55 to limit its downward movement. At this point the'contactmember 17 is in engagement with both contacts 16 and 46 and at this point all of the push-button circuits are closed and also the retaining-coil circuit. The contact-piece 17 has, however, only partially completed its movement and as it continues to move upwardly carrying the contact 46 into the position shown by dotted outlines, it separates from the contact of the push-button circuits. Its uppermost position is maintained so long as the magnet k, is in position to close the motor circuit and when the magnet k is de'energized the contact-piece retraces its movement, breaking the retaining-coil circuit and closing the push-button circuit to the position shown in Fig. 2 in full lines. It is, of course, necessary that this form" of contact be duplicated for the other contacts on the retaining-coil and the push-button circuits on the reversing-switc 16 andthereby opens all The operation of my deVice is. as follows. x

the position indicated in the drawings by the controller C; at the third floor and that a person at the second floor desires to call the car to that floor or a person in the car wishes to The person presses the ush-button a, or 5 as the case may be, for an instant and then releases the pressure. The operation of the button, if any one'of the elevator doors is open produces no effect because the contact on the door which is open is not closed, but if all the doors are closed then a circuit is made from the positive main 3 through conductor 13, door contacts c c c and 0 conductor 14, coil (1 push-button a, through conductor 15 to contact 16, contact 18, conductor 19, contact 20, contact member 21, contact 22 and conductor 23 to the negative main 4. This cir-. cuit being established the current in coil 0!, causes the magnet e to operate and puts the contact-piece 7, across the contacts 9 and 71.

This establishes another circuit from the positive-main through conductor 13, door contacts, conductor 14, conductor '40 to point 42, coil is, switch 3' conductor 60, switch 7' conductor 61, contact k contact-piece f contact 9 conductor 41 to the negative main. This circuit operates the magnet 70 and starts the motor in a direction to cause the car to descend. The operation of the magnet 7c at the same time moves the contact member 21 from engagement with contacts 20 and '22 into engagement with contacts 48 and 49. This action of the magnet 70 breaks the push-button circuits beor 6 as the case may be,

tween the contacts 20 and 22 and establishes a new circuit through the retainlng-colls 7' T and r on the magnets 6 e c and a,

.respectively. This circuit is from the positive main through the conductor 13, door contacts 0 0 c and c conductor 14 to retaining coils 1' 1",, r, and r conductor" 45, contact 48 contact piece 21, contact 49 and conductor 23 to the negative main. The retaining-coils through which the current flows when this circuit is closed are of sufiicient strength to hold the magnetsc e e and 6 in any position in which they may be when the circuit is closed but are not of sufficient strength to operate any of said magnets. The magnet e having been operated by coil d, by the closing of the push-button circuit by pressing button a, or is consequently held in its operativeposition when the retaining-coils are energized by the closing of the last described circuit. It is of course necessary that the circuit through the retaining-coils be closed before the pushbutton circuit is opened in order that the operated magnet may be'retained in an operative position. If the push-button circuit were opened in advance of the closing of the retaining-coil circuit then the magnet would drop back into inoperative position breaking the reversing-switch circuit and stoppin the motor. For these reasons, I

use the orm of contacts shown in Fig. 2 and 7 thereby the push-button circuits are not opened until the retaining-coil circuit has been closed. The operation of the reversin swltch having in the manner just described closed the retaining-coil circuit and opened:

the operation all the push-button circuits,

of any push-button will not establish any circuits and therefore any interference with.

the elevator while it is in operation is prevented.

Current having now been supplied to the motor in such a manner as to cause the car to descend, the member C starts to travel and moves with a speed relative to the speed of the car in a direction corresponding to the down direction of the car (as shown in Fig. 1 from right to left). Moving in this direction, the member C first engages the switch 7' no effect as'this switch'is in the second group of control circuits governing the car when ascending. Continuing in its movement to the left the member C next engages switch j, and opens same. thereby opening the circuit which was established through the contacts 9 It, on the magnet e and the switch j, when the push-button was operated to call the carto the second floor. In consequence, the magnet k returns to an inoperatlve position opening the motor circuit and the motor comes to rest with the car at the second floor and the member C between the switches i and 7' In this posisult is the same in either case.

' circuits and closes it. This produces.

its destination, the fourth floor.

tion the operation of push-buttons 0, or

f When the magnet It returns to an inoper-' ative position, the contact-piece 21 carried thereby disengages from contacts 48 and 49 opening the retaining-coil circuit and engages contacts 20 and 22 closing the pushbutton circuits and the system is then in a normal position ready to be again started by the pressing of a push-button at a floor station or in the car. g

The car is now at rest at the second floor. Assume that it is desired to bring the car to the fourth floor. This can be done in two ways; either by a person at the fourth floor pressing push-button 0: or by a passenger in the car pressing push-button The re- When the push-button is operated, it establishes a circuit as hereinbefore described except that contacts 46 and 47 thereby closing the circuit through the retaining coils hereinbefore described and to disengage the contacts 16 and 18- thereby opening all of the pushas to cause the car to ascend. The operation I'Jof the magnet 70, also causes the contactmember'lf to move into engagement with button circuits. As the car starts to ascend is from the second floor the member C moves to the right (as shown in Fig; 1) first closing switch 3' which produces no effect as this switch is in the first group of control governing the car when descending. The member C then reaches switch j and opens it which also is barren of effect because this switch is not in the control circuit which was closed by the operation of the floor-magnet e The switch 7 is next closed and finally v the member C reaches switch 7", opens it and breaks the control circuit causing the magnet is, to return to an inoperative posi tion and the motor to stop with the car at From the foregoing description the operation of my system will be apparent irrespective of the nlunaber of floors to which it may be app 1e It is to be observed that my system is of great simplicity both in construction and in operation and for this reason combines great efliciency with low cost of installation and malntenance.

It is to be understood that my invention may be embodied in other forms of construction than that herein shown and described and except where specifically limited in the following claims, it is my intention to claim it broadly.

IVhat I claim is 1. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversingswitch, a push-button for each floor or station, a magnet for each floor, each floormagnet being provlded with an actuatingcoil in circuit with its respective push-button and being provided with a retaining-coil, a suitable circuit including the retainingcoils on the said floor magnets and means whereby said last mentioned circuit is closed and said push-button circuits are opened Wheneversaid reversing-switch is operated to start the motor.

2. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-switch for starting and stopping the motor, a push-button for each floor or station, a magnet for each floor or station, each of said magnets having an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil, suitable pushbutton circuits, each of said circuits including one of said push-buttons and an actuating-coil upon its respective magnet, a circuit including all of said retaining-coils and means operated by the operation of said reversing-switch for closing saidretaining-coilcircuit and opening all of said push-button circuits.

3. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor, a car and a plurality of stations of a reversingswitch, a plurality of floor-magnets corresponding in number to said stations, each of said floor-magnets having an actuatingcoil and a retaining-coil, each of said actuating-coils being in a circuit with its respective station, contacts closed by the operation of any one of said floor-magnets to establish a circuit to operate said reversing-switch, a circuit including said retaining-coils on said floor-magnets and means actuated by the operaton of the reversing-switch for closing saidcircuit through said retainingcoils and for opening all the circuits between said stations and the actuating-coils of said floor-magnets.

4. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor, a car and a plurality of stations of a reversingswitch, floor-magnets corresponding in number to said stations, each of said floor- Inagnets having an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil, suitable circuits each including a station and the actuating-coil upon its respective floor-magnet, means for closing .Yllfl circuits to actuate said magnets, a

circuit including the retaining-coils in said magnets and means operated by the reversing-switch for closing said'retaining-coil circuit and for opening all of the actuating-coil circuits.

5. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-switch, a push-button for each floor, a magnet for each floor, each floor-magnet being provided with an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil, the actuating-coil of each of said floor-magnets being in circuit with one of said push-buttons, by the operation of any of said floor-magnets for operating said reversing-switch to start the motor and means actuated by the operation of said reversing-switch for energizing the retaining-coils of said magnets and for opening the push-button circuits.

6. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-switch, a plurality of floor-magnets one for each floor or station, each of said floor-magnets having an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil in difierent circuits, a plurality of push-buttons one for each floor or station, each in circuit with an actuatingcoil on one of said floor-magnets, means operated by the operation of said floor-magnets to establish a circuit or actuating the said reversing-switch to start the motor and means actuated by the operation of the reversing-switch for opening the circuit to the actuating-coils of the floor-magnets and for closing a circuit through the retainingcoils of the floor-magnets.

7. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-swith, a floor-magnet for each station, each floor-magnet having an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil, a push-button for each station, the operation of a push-button closes a circuit through the actuating-coil of its respective floor-magnet, contacts closed by the operation of the floor-magnets to establish a circuit through Versing-switch to operate the same and means actuated by the operation of the reversing-switch for opening all the push-button circuits to the actuating-coils of the floor-magnets and for closing a circuit through the retaining-coils of the floor-magnets. 1

8. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-switch. a push-button for each floor. a magnet for each floor, each fioolmagnet being provided with an actuatingcoil and a retainlng-coil, the actuating-coil of each of said floor-magnets being in circuit means actuated suitable circuits whereby 11 an actuating-coil of the replurality of push-buttons one for with one of said push-buttons, means actuated by the operation of any one of said floor-magnets for operating said reversingswitch to start the motor and contacts actuated by the operation of said reversingswitch for energizing the retaining-coils of said magnets and for opening the push-button circuits.

9. In an apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with a motor for operating the car in either direction of a reversing-switch, a plurality of floor-magnets one for each floor or station, each of said floor-magnets having an actuating-coil and a retaining-coil indifferent circuits, a eachfloor or station, each in circuit with an actuatingcoil on one of said floor-magnets, means operated by the operation of said floor-magnets to establish a circuit for actuating the said reversing-switch to start the motor and contacts actuated by the operation of the reversing-switch for opening the circuit to the actuating-coils of the floor-magnets and for tive floor-magnet,

mamas lug-coil and a retaining-coil, a push-button for each station, suitable circuits whereby the operation of a push-button closes a circuit through the actuating-coil of its respecco ntacts closed by the operation of the floor-magnets to establish a circuit through an actuating-coil of the reversing-switch to operate the same and contacts actuated by the operation of thereversing-switch for opening all the push-button circuits to the actuating-coils of the floor-magnets and for closing a circuit through the retaining-coils of the floormagnets.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set myhand this second day of February, 1916.

WILLIAM S. SMITH. 

